Power operated conveyer-type loading machine



R. W. KLlNG Feb. 16, 1954 POWER OFERATED CONVEYER-TYPE LOADING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 23. 1952 mm, NN

Fa.;-4 G, 1954 R, W, KUNG 2,669,338

POWER OPERATED CONVEYER-TYPE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 23, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1954 R, w KUNG 2,669,338

POWER OPERATED CONVEYER-TYPE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 u 9% Q s N f f f 3 Q 11 N "N L' Q32 w g O f ca'? I O N' l (C @3 j g f Nd -lH oo I 00 L 00 O0' o I! g 5 f f N /If I f 'r f! I I I I f y OO l 1r 0G l o0 1 QQ QQ l ."l &

Feb. 16, 1954 R. W. KLlNG POWER OPERATED CONVEYER-TYPE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 23, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

705,325 7a 7am Feb. 16, 1954 R. w. KLING 2,669,338

POWER OPERATED CONVEYER-TYPE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 l ll' fin v l?! g Us' @5 69 6.7 1U* Feb. 16, 1954 R. w. KLING POWER OPERATED CONVEYER -TYPE LOADING MACHINE M/m QWE.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 LOADING CON VEYERl-TYPE Chicago, Ill., assignor. to `Athey.

Ptodiicts Corporation, Chicagr 111., fa corpora` tion of Illinois A'pplictibn lilay 23, 1952',v Serial N. 289,4

13 Claims. (C-L 198.-9)

This invention relatesto poweroperatedfconveyor-type loading machines, and more particular-ly to; such machines which havea feeding conveyor mechanism associated with theloading end of .an elevating conveyor.

As `a general object, myinvention embodies the provisionuof a power. operatedV loading, machine having adjacentdriven parts for moving matein or bythe parts .so as to cause damage thereto.

More specifically#considered the loading machine; to. whichmyA invention relates embodies power driven, parts for moving material inwardly fromv oppositeaends..V of a backing plate of predetermined span and. into the .path of another a channel at the midfportion of the backing,` plate, and wherein the backing plate, channel and the power driven parts are constrncted and related so vas to minimizethe possiblity of having larger Y jammed in `or between the `parts `andthe backing plate` 'or channeL Myfinvention -has.for another object the provision of aconveyor-type loading machine emr lrespect to the feeding conveyor, thereby to eiiect improved eiiiciency of the loader operation and movement in loading. materials from windrows, stock pilesnand the like.

Otherobjects. and advantages of the invention willbe apparent from the following description pieces of material getting taken `su'ostantially on Fig. 4 is a -fragmentaryliront perspective view of` the` loadingymachine illustrated in Figs.: l and4 2;

Fig. 5 is airagmentary front perspectivesview taken from a somewhat different positionthan Fig. 4 and depicting a portion `of thestructure show-n in Fig. 4:;`

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary .perspective view taken from above and to one side of the front end .portion of my disclosed loading machine;A Fig. '7 is` afragmentary top` plan View` illiistratA ing ,the structure and details ofcertain portions of the front end portion of my disclosed `loading machine; l

Fig.` 851s a fragmentary` side sectional view, a line 8-8 `of Fig. 7 and in the direction indicated byA arrows;

9 is a. fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially as indicated` by. lines 9-9 i-nFigs. l and 8, and in the direction of thefaccompanying arrows those iigures; and

Figs. 101, 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially as indicated by lines iii-JIL `I |-|i, and I2-'|2, respectively, in Figs 7 and 8.

Certain` general aspects :and structural detail-s of the .power operated conveyortyper loading machine disclosed herein are like thoseillustrated and described in the cca-pending application of Raymore l). MacDonald, Serial. No. 74,743, led February 5, 1949, and now Patent No. 25639;,022, for PoWerActuated Conveyor-Type Loader. and assigned to the same assignee.

`Having reference to the more general aspects of the structure of my` loaderwhich is shown in the accompanying draw-ings for illustrativepur posesthat loader, as

A prime mover, such as` an inter-nal combustion engine,- is mounted within a` .housing I il at the rear of the main frame. Asshown in Fig.` 1, an open ators station l5 is provided at one side and near the frontofthe machine, from which position may observe 'the machine as wort:-

operations of `various Aparts and progress and operations of "the progresses.

A'n Aeframe itis secured to and extend'spe wardl'y from the rear portion ofthe mainframe I0 and has side portions in opposed relationship,

the main frame, each of on opposite sides of rear upright l1,

which side portions includes a a diagonal brace I8 and a horizontal brace i9. The rear uprights Il and the diagonal braces i8 are secured together at their upper ends and each has its lower end secured to the main frame. The opposite ends of the horizontal brace I9 are secured to the mid-portions of the rear uprights and the diagonal braces to strengthen the side frame structure. This A-type frame structure provides an elevated rear support, relative to which the rear end of an elevating conveyor 20 is supported for swinging movement in a vertical plane. In the present instance, the elevating conveyor 20 is of the endless belt type having a longitudinally extending conveyor belt 22 carried between opposed side panels 23. Y The.

front end of the elevating conveyor 20'is supported for vertical movement relative to the main frame i9 through the adjustable lifting 'mechanism (not shown), which maybe controlled from the operators station. At the extreme forward end of the elevating conveyor, there is a material gathering and feeding mechanism which is designated generally by the reference'numeral 25.

For the purpose of moving material onto the forward or material receiving end of the elevating conveyor 29, I have provided an endless chain and scraper type of feeding conveyor 26. This conveyor, in order to compensate for operating conditions including the amount of material being moved by the feeding conveyor, as well as to prevent damage thereto when rocks or large pieces of material are encountered, is supported for vertical swinging movement by side arms 21; the side arms being hingedly supportedfrelative to the main frame I at their rear ends and extending forwardly to positions ahead of the elevating conveyor and such that the feeding conveyor projects well ahead of the forward end of the elevating conveyor. In the disclosed loader, the forward ends of the side arms 21 are supported for vertical movements relativeto the forward end of the elevating conveyor by adjustable supporting elements 28.

'2. In order to broaden the path from which material is gathered by the disclosed loader, a plate 29 extends laterally of the forward end of the elevating conveyor and projects well beyond the i opposite sides of that conveyor. The upper portion of the plate 29 is substantially straight and the lower portion thereof curves forwardly, the lower edge being adjoined by a blade 39 which provides a front cutting edge across which material is moved to the material gathering and feeding mechanism 25. At the opposite ends of the plate 2S and blade 39, end plates 32 are removably secured, so as to project angularly therefrom. The end plates 32, in my disclosed structure, are constructed and arranged so that they may be mounted to project forwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, or rearwardly as shown in Fig. 2. When mounted to project forwardly, the loader is adapted to operations such as loading from windrows, and the end plates 32 prevent material from being spilled around the ends of the plate 29. In operations such as loading from stock piles and the like, the end plates 32 are preferably mounted so as to extend rearwardly, in which instance they prevent material from the stock pile from owing into positions ahead of the front wheels I3 of the loader, thereby to interfere with the ease of operation and move- H lrltof the loader.

In the loader depicted in Fig. l, an auxiliary conveyor 33 is mounted on the rear of the loader to receive material from the upper or discharge end of the elevating conveyor belt 22. This auxiliary conveyor includes side frame parts such as 34, side panels 35, and braces 3G, and is mounted at the rear of the loader between the rear uprights i1 so asto be swingable laterally of the loader to adjusted positions.

Referring in greater detail to certain portions of the structure which have thus far been generally discussed, the elevating conveyor 23 includes opposed and substantially parallel side channels 31 between which the conveyor belt 22 is supported for longitudinal movement. Cleats, such as 38, may, when desired for the handling of many types of materials, be secured to the upper surface of the belt in longitudinal spaced -relationship. Also, to prevent the escape of relatively small particles of material along the sides of the elevating conveyor, flexible webs 39 are secured to the lower portions of the side panels 23, isV shown in Figs. i and ll, and overlap the side margins of the conveyor belt 22, so as to remain in contact therewith. The webs 39 may be made of a flexible and wear-resistant material, such as relatively heavy sheet rubber, and are outside of the ends of the cleats, as well as curved so as to contact directly-with the Yconveyor belt surface.

In the disclosed loader structure, the operation of the elevating conveyor 2i) is controllable from the operators station and is driven from the prime mover through mechanism including a drive chain carried within housings 4c and 58 which extend along the diagonal'brace I8 at one side of the loader, as shown in Fig. l. With lthis structural arrangement, driving force is transmitted to the conveyor belt 22 through an intermediate shaft 42 which is carried at the apex of the A-frames. This shaft 42 also serves as a fulcrum about which the elevating conveyor is raised and lowered to determine the level at which the blade 30 operates relative to the ground.

The side arms 2i which carry the feeding conveyor 23 are supported for vertical swinging movement relative to the main frame l!) at their rear ends. As shown in Figs. l, 4 and 5, bearings 43 at the front ends of the side arms 21 rotatably support a cross shaft 44 which is preferably tubular in section and which not only eX- tends between the side arms, but also projects a substantial distance on the outsides of the arms. Between the side arms 2l, sprockets 45 are drivingly secured to the cross shaft 44; the sprockets 45 being separated a distance which is somewhat less than the width of the elevating conveyor and spaced inwardly of the side arms, as shown in Fig. ll. Additional sprockets 45 are mounted on, and drivingly connected to a feeding conveyor drive shaft 4l, and are aligned with the sprockets 45. The shaft 41 is journaled in bearing blocks 48, which bearing blocks are mounted on the side arms 2l in aligned relationship and rearwardly of the arms 2l from thebearings 43. The aligned sprockets 45 and 43 carry endless conveyor chains 53, which conveyor chains-have scraper blades 53 secured to their outer surfaces so as to project outwardly from the chains and extend across those chains in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the shafts 44 and 41. Preferably, the ends of the blades are curved, so that in their normal direction of movement, which is rearwardly on the lower sides of the able axially relative to one "sprockets, Vthey tend `to gather materlallinwardly whilewmoving kit-to therearr'from the bladel30=to the-elevatingconveyor-beltii Consideredas a unit, vthe feeding-V conveyor is centeredelaterallyof the loadery withrespect to the elevating conveyor l 29: l When the' quantity ofmaterial which is being `picked upby theloader is relatively-small,y andlwhen the sizesof the pieces-areu generally small,1 itis desirable to operateth'e loader with the feeding conveyor' blades movingin-relatively close proximity to the blade 30: When the sizes of the-pieces of-material lare larger or when the `quantity of rnaterialis larger,

improved operation feeding conveyor theylevelof vthe blade 30: Inanyinstance, there is a possibility of occasionally encgunteringoa rock or a large piece ofgmaterialduringnormal 'loading operations. Furthermore,- resilience in the support ofthe feeding conveyor-is desirable ina propelled loaderofthe type'disclosed, in order` to limit shock forces oni the loaden-structure which result from `movements over rough terrain or thel encountering of rocks or large pieces-of n iateriaJ;` as aforementioned; The desirable variations` in the normal elevation offthe feeding conveyor andthe preferred resilience in fthe support thereof are provided in the disclosed 'loader by the adjustable supporting elements 2B.

Injmy disclosed loader;the-adjustable supporting elements 28 include telescopically engaging cylindershavingflanges 452v and 53 at their op# posite ends, whichcylinders are `fitted together for sliding movement relative to one anotherand is effected bywhavingthe havea compression springlencompassingtheir outer surfaces andengaged" atits oppositeends by the flanges lV and 53i 'Ihus,V thev cylinders andtheir respective flanges `5 2i'ancl 53 arefmovanother, subject to theresilient action and control of thespring 54. To provide controllableextensibility for raising andloweringthe feeding conveyor, the inner-cylinderhas a piston 55l mounted therein to Aform anhydraulically operated jack.` Atthe'lower end of'each of the adjustable. supporting- `elements 2B, the piston 55 is supported by a bracket l55"'from the mainframe IIll;` while thewupperend of Vthe outer cylinder isconnected to abracket `5*! which lprojects outwardly` from eachoffthe `side arms 2;7. With this-arrangement; thc-weight ofthe hingedly supporteda-mil vertically movable feeding conveyor is resiliently `carried through the compression springs 54; `which springs balance that weight in partially extendedpositions,V and the elevation of veyor relative to the blade` 39 is) determined lby the hydrau-licjacks, of-which-theplstons 55 form parts.,A Stops (not'shown) are provided forlimitingthe downward `movement offthe arms 2,` so that the blades *501 ofl the feeding-conveyorare preventedifroin`` engagingtheblade 30. Guide rollersf I -arecarried between `support plates 6 l a on opposite Vsides of the -top of the plate-29; and engagethe outer` surfaces ofthe side arms 21' of Athe feeder conveyor during ment ofi those arms, thereby to provide `lateral stabilization of the feeder conveyor `withoutdrr- =terfering y with its vertical swinging movements.

The `feeding conveyor 26, likethe elevating conveyor 2t, is driven from through chains4 andI sprocketsr enclosed within housings 5tlg and 6a; as depicted in Fig. l., `The housings AElli and Sil4 extend along that sideV arm "2:11: .QnsW of the. `sprockets in the` housing 6011s drivngly connected to the shaft l, whereby the elevated'to` some extent above the feeding conthe vertical movethe pri-me `Inover loader, certain relationships havebeen tially from the opposite feeding conveyor-f is driven i fromi that. shaft.` and throughsits-rear-sprocketsd;

In `addition vto the: `feeding conveyor MJ-which moves material directly across thetblade 32S and towardthem-elevating conveyorZB, my disclosed loaderlincludes screw` orfauger: type. conveyors `lif-at-opposite sides of `the feeding. conveyorfor movingmaterial inwardly along-theblade Strand plate 29 from the sides and toward the feeding conveyor 26:. 'I'he` screw'or auger type. side `conveyors ofl myV loadeimearzn include an edgewise woundlmetali strip .tihaving an outer diameter corresponding `closely to that l of. the arc.` dened `by the outer-edges oi' the` lscraper `blades .asth'ey rpassffoverthe-peripheries of the sprocketsfl.. Inaddition toA concentrically encompassing the projecting end porticnsof the lshaft 44, the turns of the strip `63- extend I axially `of those projecting shaftendsftdformhelices. Each helixis sup.,- ported relativeto the projecting end of thefshaft by'a series `of `radial spokes .6.4; whichaspolreszare securedto the shaftand to thestrip. AlsoI` the axialz displacementl of'- the successive. portions.v of each-helical strip isso related to thernormaldirection of movementof the feedingconveyori-QG and shaftwi that material isA moved inwardly toward the feedingconveyoi-by those helicesoas the opera-tion of theloader progresses. Theeffective action ofthe screw orauger typetconveyors is improved -by virtue-of the-fact that they areA backed by the plate 281 and the blade From the foregoing description,y itmay bereadily understood that the side.l conveyors, as well as the feeding elevatingconveyors are all driven from the primemover to effect# thev gathering and movements of material during-the operation of the loader.

Asshown inl the drawings, the plate 29 has an opening at themid-portion thereof which is,` adjoined by a channel E67 from and through which the feeding-conveyor ZS-extends .to a` position somewhat ahead of` the forward or cutting edge of the` blade Sli` The channel `is dennedby a bottom plates? and side plates-68A and G9 which comprisespaced and opposed side Walls of the channel. In order to improve the. material gatheringoperation of the loader, andz partic- 'ularly-fgto prevent'U larger pieces of vmaterial l from getting caught lorjammed incr between the 4side and feedingconveyorsi-atthe frontend of the established between the side and feeding conveyors andjbetween those'conveyors, the platef29 and the channel -66-.

The feeiingrconveyor 2S, as has been stated, isof practically the same width as the elevating-conveyor 20. Also, as indicated in Fig. 2,-.the feeding conveyor overlaps the lower end ofl the elevatingconveyor, so that the material is pushed by-thefeeding conveyor along the bottom `liflof 4the channel and onto ythe elevating-conveyon As one precaution for preventing large pieces of material from beingforced'into the side of the feeding conveyor inea manner -thatfmight cause damage, Vthe side conveyors are spaced `substan sides of the feedingconveyor. Furthermore, since the material is requiredto .change its direction of' movement in passing.Y from the side Conveyors to the feeding conveyor, `the Opening 65 inthe plate 29 and` the front` end; of theV channel `66, are considerably Wider than Vtlfnefeeding conveyor, thereby providingone precaution Vfor preventinglarge pieces of material from being caughtatthe corners defined bythe juncture ofthe channel with the plate-29,

.a c'onvexly curved end edge '52.

vallel relationship to the ground surface.

yreversed positions.

As an additional precaution for preventing material from being caught at those corners, the side conveyors are of a length and are so Vdisposed that they extend across the corners, so that pieces of material are movedinwardiy beyond the corner before the forced changey in direction is effected by the passing of the material from the influence of the side conveyors to the feeding conveyor. f

As depicted by Figs. 4, and 'l of the drawings, the side walls of the channel S6 converge from the opening 65 in the plate` and along the sides Aof the feeding conveyor 26 toward the elevating conveyor. This convergence tends gradually to force the material inwardly to the elevating conveyor. In my disclosed structure, the side walls of the channel E55, in addition to converging laterally toward `the feeding conveyor, also converge upwardly. This upward convergence effects an inward rolling movement of the material being loaded as it is pushed rearwardly along those side walls toward the elevating conveyor by the feeding conveyor and by the forward progress of the loader. The planes of various portions which constitute the side walls ofthe channel are depicted in Figs. 7 to ll inclusive.

In loading operations, such as the gathering of -material from windrows, the end plates 3E are mounted on the opposite sides of the plate is, so that they project forwardly across the outer `ends of the side conveyors, as shown in Fig. l. In

other operations, such as loading material from stockpiles, the end plates 32 are mounted so as to extend rearwardly from the plate 29, as shown :in Fig. 2. In the first mentioned position, the plates prevent material from being pushed sidexwise around the opposite ends of the plate rwhile in the second mentioned position, they A.extend to a position adjacent the iront of the loader steering wheels.v and` prevent material from nowing in at the ends of the plate 29 to positions ahead of the loader steering wheels.

In the disclosed loader, each of the plates 32 has a concavely curved edge lil at one end which substantially conforms to the curvature of the plate 29. At the opposite end, each plate-has A bottom edge 'I3 of each plate is substantially straight and normally assumes a position in substantially par- At the top, an integrally formed flange 'as is provided to stiften the end plate structure. Along the midportion of each end plate, a formed sheet metal .rib is secured to one surface, as by welding, to

afford additional stiffness.

The end plates 32, when mounted in either position, are removably secured in place by fasten- 'ing means, such as cap screws i6 threaded into a 4:suitable flange on the rear edge of the plate 29.

In Figs. l and 2, it may be observed that holes 'l1 and 18 at spaced positions near the bottom of each end plate are provided for the mounting of those end plates in their aforementioned It may be readilyunderstood that with the disclosed structural arrangement, the end plates are switched from side to side of the loader front end structure and are reversed in position to effect their reversed mounting.

From the foregoing description and reference to the accompanying drawings, it may be readily understood that I have provided a power operated conveyor-type loading machine which embodies structural features and arrangements of parts in the material gathering andfeeding porthe side limits of I of the side plates at and sil tion of the loader which not only serve to adapt the loader to effective operation for different types of use, but which also provide for effective and efficient feeding of the gathered material onto the elevating conveyor with a minimum possibility of having larger pieces of material jammed in the feeding conveyors or between those conveyors and the material gathering plate.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be Amade without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all` changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatfI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: f

l. A power operated conveyor-type loading machine comprising an elevating conveyor, a material gathering and guide plate extending laterally of the material receiving end of the elevating conveyor and having an opening in the mid-portion thereof aligned with and materially wider than the elevating conveyor for the passage of material to the elevating conveyor, a feeding conveyor extending through said opening in the plate from a position over the material receivingend of the elevating conveyor to a position ahead of the plate for moving material through the opening and onto the elevating conveyor, rotary pusher type conveyors on opposite sides of the forward end of the feeding conveyor for moving material along opposite ends of the plate toward the feeding conveyor, said elevating conveyor and the feeding conveyor being substantially narrower than said opening, said rotary pusher type conveyors being spaced from the opposite sides of the front end of the feeding conveyor and each having a length such that it moves material across the adjacent side of the opening, and opposed side walls adjoined to and extending rearwardly from the plate at opposite sides of the opening and converging toward the elevating conveyor at opposite sides of the feeding conveyor.

A2. A power operated conveyor-type loading machine as defined in claim l, and wherein said side walls are disposed at angles relative to the vertical so that they have portions converging upwardly at opposite sides of the feeding conveyor to effect inward rolling movement of the material as it is moved along by the feeding conveyor.

3. A power operated conveyor-type loading machine as dened in claim l, and further characterized by end plates secured to opposite sides of the curved plate and extending forwardly therefrom across opposite outer end portions of the rotary pusher type conveyors.

il. A power operated conveyor-type loading machine comprising an elevating conveyor, a material gathering plate extending laterally across the material receiving end of the elevating conveyor and adjoined at its lower edge by a cutting blade, said plate having an opening in the mid-portion thereof aligned with and materially wider than the elevating conveyor for the passage of material to the elevating conveyor, said plate also having end portions on opposite sides of the opening which extend forwardly near the bottom and which are relatively flat and extend upwardly at the rear of the forwardly extending and a bottom,

terlal gathering plate at said opening and extendingirearwar-dlyitherefrom `to provide a passage for `the flow` of material to` the elevating conveyor, said openingand the` portion ofthe channel adjacentithereto being wider than the elevating convetyor, and the side wallsof the channel converging away from the plate to approximately the `Awidth of' the elevating conveyor, a feeding conveyor` extending forwardly through the channel fromy a position aheadof the blade to a position overlapping the elevating conveyor for moving material through the channel to the elevatingconveyor, said feeding conveyor beingnarrowerthanthe opening and forward end of the channel, and power operated -side `conveyors for moving material inwardly alongxopposite `sides of fthe irplate toward the feeding conveyor, the length' and position of each of the side conveyors being-such that it extends across the adjacent sideiwall offthe channel.

5. A power operated conveyor-type loading machine as dened in claim 4, and wherein said side walls converge upwardly so as to eifect an inward rolling movement of material as such material is moved through the channel toward the elevating conveyor by the feeding conveyor.

6. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine, the combination comprising an elevating conveyor, a material gathering plate extending laterally across the material receiving end of the elevating conveyor and adjoined at its lower edge by a cutting blade, said plate having an opening in the mid-portion thereof aligned with the elevating conveyor for the passage of material to the elevating conveyor, said plate also having end portions on opposite sides of the opening which extend forwardly near the bottom and which are relatively straight above the forwardly extending portions, a channel defined by opposed side walls and a bottom, said channel adjoining the material gathering plate at said opening and extending rearwardly therefrom to provide a passage for the flow of material to the elevating conveyor, said opening and the portion of the channel adjacent thereto being materially wider than the elevating conveyor to provide space for the movement of relatively large pieces of material around the corners formed by the plate and channel side walls, and the side walls of the channel converging away from the plate to approximately the width of the elevating conveyor gradually to confine the spread of the ilowing material in the channel.

7. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine as defined in claim 6, the combination being further characterized by a feeding conveyor extending longitudinally in said channel for moving material through the channel to the elevating conveyor, and said feeding conveyor being substantially narrower than said opening.

8. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine as defined in claim 6, the combination being further characterized by side conveyors for moving material inwardly along opposite sides of the plate to said opening, and the lengths and positions of the side conveyors being such that they extend along an end portion of the plate and across the edge of said opening.

9. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine as defined in claim 6, said opposed side walls of the channel converging upwardly so as to eifect an inward rolling movement of material adjacent the side walls as such material moves through the channel toward the elevating conveyor,

lil 10,.,In a poweroperated conveyor-type loading machine, the combination comprisingY a materiall gathering .plate having a cutting edge` at the bottom thereof,` said plate'having an opening in the mid-portion thereof and above the cutting edge for the passage ofgathered material, said plate ends of the material gathering vplate so as to project in substantiallyright angular relationship thereto, andsaid end-plates having sets of lbores near `one end .thereof `through `which vthey `may beA bolted to the-.material gathering plate, whereby they `are reversible Arelative to the material gathering plate so as `to Vchange the directionof their projection Vfrom the Vmaterial gathering' plate.

1l. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine, the combination comprising an elevating conveyor having a material receiving end, a feeding conveyor overlapping the elevating conveyor and of approximately the same width as the elevating conveyor, and means dening a channel having walls extending along opposite sides of the feeding conveyor, said walls converging toward the elevating conveyor from a channel width materially greater than the width of their lengths to effect inward rolling movement of material moved therealong by the feeding conveyor.

12. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine, the combination comprising an endless belt type of elevating conveyor having material receiving and discharge ends at the front and rear respectively, side and bottom walls forming a channel aligned with the material receiving end of the elevating conveyor and extending forwardly therefrom, the bottom of said channel being in overlapping relationship to the material receiving end of the elevating conveyor, said elevating conveyor having side walls which. merge with the side walls of the channel, a material gathering plate extending laterally across the lower edge by a `forwardly projecting cutting blade, said plate having an opening at the midportion thereof which is aligned with the channel, and the bottom of the channel adjoining the cutting blade, a power operated feeding conveyor extending through said channel from a position over the material receiving end of the elevating conveyor to a position ahead vof the cutting blade, power operated pitched rotary type conveyors at opposite `sides of the front end of the feeding conveyor for moving material inwardly along opposite ends of the plate to the said opening for movement through said channel by the feeding conveyor, the inner ends of said pitched rotary type conveyors extending across opposite side edges of said opening and being spaced from the opposite sides of the feeding conveyor, and the lside walls of said channel driverging at the front of the channel to provide relief for the passage of gathered material around the corners at the juncture of the plate and the side walls of the channel.

13. In a power operated conveyor-type loading machine, the combination comprising a material gathering plate having front and rear faces and a relatively straight cutting edge extending across l1 the bottom thereof, said plate having an opening at. the mid-portion thereof which extends through the plate above the cuting edge, Wall and bottom plates adjoining the rst mentioned plate at said opening and extending angularly from the rear face thereof to provide a channel for the flow `of material gathered by the plate and cutting edge, pitched rotary type conveyors mounted for rotational movement at opposite sides of the front face of the first mentioned plate and extending across opposite side edge portions of the opening for moving material inwardly to the opening from opposite sides of the front face of the rst mentioned plate, and a feeding conveyor extending through said channel from a position between the pitched rotary type conveyors for moving material through the channel from the inner ends ofV the -pitched rotary type conveyors and in a direction transverse to that of the material movements produced by the pitched rotary 12 type conveyors, the inner ends of said pitched rotary typev conveyors and said feeding conveyor having spaces therebetween which are inside of the limits defined by the maximum Width of said opening, so as to provide relief for the change of direction of said material. l

ROBERT W. KLING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,630,598 Barber May 31,1927 1,764,084 Nelson et al June 1'?, 1930 1,862,230 McDermott June 751932 2,199,257 Ferrin Apr. 30, 1940 2,208,128 Holbrook et al July 16, 1940 2,315,091 Fees Mar. 30, 1943 2,623,624 Slocum Dec. 30, 1952 2,639,022 MacDonald May 19, 1953' 

